Buffalo Meat Traders Selling Above Rp80,000/Kg Face Government Enforcement Action
Jakarta — The government has affirmed that it will take action against traders selling frozen buffalo meat above the government-stipulated reference selling price (HAP). The public is urged to report any instances of sales that violate these regulations.
Agung Suganda, Director-General of Livestock and Animal Health at the Ministry of Agriculture, stated that the government has established a supervision mechanism through a dedicated task force under the National Food Agency (Bapanas) to enforce compliance with reference prices, quality standards, and food safety regulations.
He emphasised that traders selling buffalo meat above the reference price can be reported directly by the public. “If there is a violation of the reference price, report it to the Price Violation Enforcement Team, and if violations are proven, there will definitely be arrests,” Agung told CNBC Indonesia on Monday (16 March 2026).
The government has set the reference selling price for imported buffalo meat at the consumer level at Rp80,000 per kilogram. Consumers can still find buffalo meat at this price at certain designated retail points.
According to Agung, inexpensive buffalo meat is typically marketed at kiosks or shops that specifically display signage or banners advertising affordable meat prices. “Frozen buffalo meat is usually sold at kiosks that have banners or signs showing affordable buffalo meat prices,” he said.
However, official data shows market prices for buffalo meat are moving substantially above the government’s reference level. Based on price monitoring by the National Food Agency’s Price Panel, on Thursday (12 March 2026) the average price of frozen buffalo meat reached Rp114,385 per kilogram.
This price is nearly 43% higher than the government’s reference price of Rp80,000 per kilogram.
Simultaneously, fresh beef prices have also increased. At various markets, this commodity is even being offered in the range of Rp140,000 to Rp150,000 per kilogram, exceeding the government’s reference selling price at the consumer level.
Regulations regarding reference prices are set out in the National Food Agency Regulation Number 12 of 2024, which establishes reference purchase prices at the producer level and reference selling prices at the consumer level for several strategic food commodities, including beef and buffalo meat.
Meanwhile, business operators believe that government oversight of meat prices in the field has been unbalanced. They contend that the government more frequently scrutinises beef traders in markets, whilst sales of imported buffalo meat exceeding the reference price escape regulatory oversight.